2nd doe season over for me

[161]

I went out to the new spot this morning and sat for two hours an saw nothing. Went to my shack and fired up the heater for two hours saw nothing. But I was asleep most of that time . About 11:00 I decided to take the long way back to the truck and stumbled across 6 or 7 does in a bedding area. One of them saw me, snorted and they all took off. One nice doe stopped to take one more look and by that time I was prone waiting. Maybe a little over 100 yards. Touched the savage off an she ran off like nothing happened. The shot looked and felt good. And I saw a patch of fur ruffled where I had been aiming. I reloaded walked to where she was standing. No blood or hair . Walked in the direction she went nothing. But Dad always told me to be sure so I wandered around a little and there she was dead as a hammer. Only went 50 yards or so but over a hill where I couldn't see her. I back tracked her and she didn't start pumping blood until she was well away from where she was hit. Solid hit lungs and liver, in and out. Like Dad said ya gotta make sure. This one goes to my son who doesn't have time to hunt. Two tags left for late ML season. I talked to the guy at the locker he said they are about half what they should be for this time of year. I told him we had about half the car deer accidents this year. So I bet we loose some doe tags next year. We lost the late shotgun and November season two years ago. I think they may have the herd under control. I like the heavy population during season but it wasn't safe to drive at night as thick as they had been.
Warren

[rangeball]

Nice job on the recovery and way to stay with it. We had that happen twice this fall, nephew was sure he center punched his first deer, a big doe, no blood hair, nothing. We split up and started combing the area, I found her about 100yds away piled up, center punched, no blood until she fell.

I shot a doe from the same stand two weeks later, center punched, dead run, found her piled up 100 yards the other way, no blood until she dropped. Where she ran was thick as a beaver tail, but I was able to walk right to her just by hearing her crash. If not, it would have been a tough recovery.

You just never know...

[midohhntr]

If I may ask, what bullet you guys used? I have found the Hornaday 250 ftx/sst with the mmp24 sabot to be the most accurate in my Savage. Just wondering how it does on deer.

[rangeball]

Nephews was a 20g brenneke slug. Mine was a 250 gr thor .50.

[161]

I've used 42 gr N110 BCR with the Remington 300 JHP for three years now. The 300 BO shoots better but not $1.00 each verses .30 cents for the Remington better. This may be a subject for a new thread and if I don't get many responses I might start one. But do most people have a hard time judging distance as it gets to low light. I went back to where I shot over the back of the deer last night. I thought it was 300 yards but in the day light I'm sure it was only 200yards.
Warren

[Dave1]

I/We are always curious about the bullet used and its terminal performance (damage, blood trail, etc.) on game. All information about such is good info for all.

At my tree stands, I go out before the season or before hunting a new stand and pace off the possible and likely shot distances. While my distance estimates are usually fairly close, my eyes are not what they used to be and this info helps when deciding if/when to shoot. I have found that actual measured distance from an elevated tree stand is less than it appears to the eyes from height.

Dave

[161]

I went back that afternoon and found the deer wasn't exactly where I thought she was when I shot. Found the blood trail from the point I shot her and followed it to her gut pile. I just needed to do a better job of marking where they stand when I shoot. Bullet, rifle, scope did their job. Operator may be the weak link .
Warren

[screwbolts]

Hi 161/Warren,

Range Estimating ;D

In reading this thread I didn't see it listed as to what the scope is on that Shooten Iron of yours.

If the scope has a duplex cross hair Reticule you have everything you need to estimate the range to any target of a known or estimated size ;D .

Some manufactures include a piece of paper with there optical devices telling you what the distance is from point to point of the duplex at a given power on your scope.

Exp 1: Tasco: 30/30 reticule is 30" point to point at 100 yards when the power ring is set on 4X.

Exp 2: My Favorite Bushnell Scopechief VI 3x9 power is 18" point to point @ 100 yards when set at 4X.

You may not have this info in written form with your scope, or you may have discarded, you know the instructions, we don't need them ;D

Now it will be easy for you to establish this distance, put up a know size target (18") @100 yards and look at it. Simple.

It is generally considered that a Mature White Tail deer is 18 inches from bottom of brisket to top of shoulders.

Now in my case I hunt on 4X and in yours also as soon as you establish at what power 18"" is point to point. Or 18" is cross hair to point, you will have everything you need to range the shot! On that power setting!!

If a deer fills my duplex point to point on 4X it is 100 yards. remember point to point is = 18"

If a deer fills the space from cross hair to point on 4X (1/2 the distance of point to point, keep that 4X or known setting! ;D) it is 200 yards. this is very simple and works every time.

Now if the deer is closer than 200 lets say for example, 150 it will fill 3/4s of the total distance point to point.

Now If the deer is at 300 yards the deer will take up just 1/3 of the distance point to point ( this is = to 2/3 of the distance cross hair to point )

Writing it out makes it sound complex but it is simply looking at the deer threw your chosen sighting device and clearly seeing how it stacks up to your known distances between the points. Now you will know if it is 200, less than 200, 150+-, 300. 250 +- . With practac at your known size target you will pick it up very quick.

This is one of the reasons for having a duplex reticule it helps with range for easily making the shot.

Ken

[161]

Screwbolts
Thanks for the info. I have a Leupold 3X9 Tactical with mil dot and a mil-master card. I just need to take time to learn how to use them. Does anybody know, do you read the mil dot on 3 or 9 power?
Warren
www.impactguns.com/store/889100000.html

[screwbolts]

Hi Warren, It is most likely at 9X, I have a burris ballistic plex and that is 9X. But, it is possible depending on what lenses are etched with the cross hair that it could be at every X setting.

If you still have the paper work that came with the scope it will tell.

My Bushnell 3200 10 x 40 Tactical is at 10X :-) go figure. This is on one of my 50 BMGs, the other wears a 20X super sniper in mill dot.

Your mill dot will do everything you need once you learn it's simple system. Yes overwhelming at first, but the dot is a certain size the line is a certain size, the distance between the dots is a certain size. the distance between the center of the dots is a certain size, they all can be used to range and for wind hold off.

I believe the mill dot was based around the size of the average human head. the average head is 7.2" between the ears, coincidentally the the dots are 3.6" center to center. 2 dots wide. At 1000 yards that is roughly 72" the height of average man.

I believe the Mill Master card might be set up for ranging the size of Man. You will just need to adapt it to the size of deer.

I should probably be talking in Mills to satisfy the most disciplined amongst use, but I will use inches here. :-)

Ken

[screwbolts]

Warren, after looking at the Card, WOW everything is there for you in a simple slide rule, see the 18" known target size in the left side of the left viewer, line that up with the number of dots including fractions of dots the target reads and Walla , the yardage is shown by the Large arrow (right side of left viewing window).

Ken

[161]

screwbolt
I took time to mess with the Mil Master. I was making it more difficult than necessary. All I need to remember is if the deer is 2.5 mill = 200 yards and I can aim right at it. 2.25 =225 yards and thats all the farther I need to shoot. Thats about as simple as it can be
Thanks
Warren